Artificial bait



Aug. 23, 1932.

C. L. GROVE ARTIFICIAL BAIT Filed March 10, 1932 Patented Aug. 23, 1932CHESTER L. GROVE, or rn snnnrcz maaxrann ARTIFICIA L nan f Applicationfiled March 10, 1e32. Serial N6. 598,042 I i This invention relates toartificial bait, and particularly to a novel form of spoon which rotatesrapidly in the water with a very slight pull on the fishing line. Thespoon of my invention comprises an oblong sheet metal plate,concavo-convex in transverse section and having wings projectingfrom-its sides in the general direction of the curvature of the plate.The plate tapers fromthe wings towards its ends, and its upper end isloosely connected to an eye or yoke which is rotatable about asupporting wire above a sphere which is also rotatably mounted on thewire. This sphere forms a circular bearing against which the convex sideof the spoon rests. When the bait is thrown in the water, a slight pullon the fishing line causes the spoon to rotate rapidly, in one directionor the other,

the direction of rotation depending upon the position of the spoon whenit enters the water or its position at the time when the line is pulled.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates an artificial bait, the

spoon of my invention being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 shows the bait with the spoon in edge view;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the spoon on the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Referring to the drawing, a indicates a straight wire, connected atits'upper end to a swivel 1 to which the fishing line attaches, andhaving a loop 2 at its lower end to which the hooks Z) are connected.The end of one arm of the loop is twisted about the wire as indicated at3, forming a rest or stop for a small perforated metal sphere 4 throughwhich the wire a extends, this sphere forming a bearing for a largermetal sphere c which has a diametrical opening through which the wire aextends. This sphere 0 is made as perfectly as possible and turns freelyon the Wire. Above the sphere c, and resting upon it, is a U-shaped loopd, the ends of which are swiveljed on the wire. projects at right anglesto thewire, and sup-: ports the'spoon e o'fmy invention. Thespoonconsists of an oblong metal plateihavinga perforationfi at itsupperend through'which This loop the loop d extends- The plate isconcavo-convex. in transverse section, as shown in Fig. 3,

and it has wings 6 at its opposite lateral edges extending in thegeneral direction of the transverse curvature bent slightly, inwardtherefrom, as shown in the drawing. From top to bottom, the plate isalso slightly concavo-convex, and nearits upper end, the concave side ofthe plate rests against the sphere 0 which holds the plate so that itinclines downwardly and outwardly from the axis of the wire a. The sideedges of the part 7 of the plate, below thewings, converge downwardly tothe lower end of the plate, and the side edges of the plate, above. thewings, converge upwardly to the upper end of the plate.

In operation, when the bait is cast 'into the water, the spoon starts torotate immediately with'the slightest pull upon the fishing line or withthe flow of water past the bait. The sphere 0 forms a bearing againstwhich the spoon rests, and with whichit revolves. The direction ofrotation of the spoon depends upon the way it happens to enter the wateror the position which it is in when the line is pulled; but when itstarts in one direction, it will continue in that direction of rotationwith a constant pull onthe line or a steady flow of water past the bait.The spoon does not drag heavilyin the water and a light pull on the linecauses it to rotate rapidly. I attribute thisaction to the wings,"andalso, in some degree, to the tapering of the ends of the spoon, whichofier little resistance to rotation or to the progress of the spoonthrough the water.

What I claim is:

1. In an artificial bait, a supporting wire, a circular bearingrevolubly mounted on the of the plate, although wire, aloop swiveledonthe wire above the bearing and a spoon comprising an oblong sheetmetalplate, concavo-convex in transverse section,v having its upper endloosely 5 connected to said loop and its concave side adapted, when thebait is pulled through the water, to rest against said bearing, saidspoon having wings projecting laterally from its 'central portion in thegeneral direction of i the transverse curvature of the plate.

2. In an artificial bait, a supporting wire, a

' circular bearing revolubly mounted on the wire,' a loop swiveled onthe wire above the bearlng and a spoon comprising an oblong sheet metalplate, concavo-convex in transverse section, having-'its upper'endloosely' connected to said loop and its concave side adapted, Whenthebait is pulled through the water, to rest against said bearin said spoonhaving wings projecting latera'ly from its central portion inthe generaldirection of the transversecurvature-oftheplate, and the body of thespoon tapering from the wings I toward its ends. 1 o V lntestimony'whereof I aflixmy signature.

7 a CHESTER L. GROVE.

